S-1817               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5911

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                                                                          C 424 L 89 PV

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Amondson, Stratton, Hayner, Owen, McDonald, Newhouse, Anderson, Matson, Johnson, Smith, Lee, Bailey, Cantu, Thorsness, Patterson, Benitz, Nelson, Saling, Sellar, Craswell, Barr, McCaslin, Conner, Rasmussen, DeJarnatt and Bauer

Read first time 2/16/89 and referred to Committee on  Ways & Means.

AN ACT Relating to public lands; adding a new section to chapter 79.01 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that:

          (1) Governmental decisions restricting use of this state's natural resources directly impact the economy of the state of Washington and the well-being of its citizens;

          (2) It is the state's obligation to manage its land in the best interest of the people of the state of Washington;

          (3) Decisions restricting this state's timber harvest cause economic hardship to families dependent on timber industries and reduce funding available for common school construction.  Therefore, it is Washington's families, and especially its children, who bear the burden of timber harvest reductions; for it is they who suffer most from lack of adequate school facilities and from the alcoholism, child abuse, and breakup of family units caused by economic hardship; and

          (4) Several million acres of Washington forest have already been set aside for preservation in their natural state and no timber harvest will ever occur thereon.  To further set aside additional acreage based on the conclusion that additional lands are necessary to maintain a habitat for a particular species, without clear and convincing evidence that such species is endangered or vanishing, is not in the best interest of the people of the state of Washington.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 79.01 RCW to read as follows:

          To enhance funding available for common school construction, all timber that was not harvested from state public lands currently designated spotted owl habitat shall immediately be made available for sale.  The proceeds of such sale shall be deposited in the state general fund in an account which shall be designated the special school construction account and shall be distributed by the superintendent of public instruction for the purpose of common school construction.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.